AgBiome is a biotechnology company using new knowledge of the plant-associated microbiome to create innovative products for agriculture. Partnerships with leading agricultural companies [such as Syngenta and Genective] accelerate their discovery process and allow us to deliver solutions for global markets. They employ 85 full-time and 2 part-time employees and occupy a state-of-the-art 30,000 square foot laboratory and greenhouse facility in the Research Triangle Park in Durham, North Carolina. AgBiome’s products will help farmers combat many of the most important unsolved problems in agriculture, including insects, nematodes, and diseases.

They believe:

• It’s the Company that’s the competitive unit, not the individual; and they foster TRUST through good relationships, communication & treating people like adults.  They put a high value on teamwork, and understand that their success requires it.
• Their non-hierarchical & participatory culture is integral to their success.  They do not have a fixed organizational structure or traditional supervisory relationships.  They self-assemble around problems to be solved.  They function within a set of formal processes that they continuously refine.  They have open meetings and share data transparently.  Employee-led committees run every one of their functions, including compensation, job performance, benefits, business development and finance.  Experts advise on decisions.  The people best-placed to make a decision are expected to do so.  They are also expected to consult with anyone whom their decision affects and pay special attention to advice from experienced colleagues.
• Hiring is the most important thing they do.  They interview qualified candidates who have passed extensive reference checks.  Multiple interviews have the sole purpose of judging whether a job candidate is likely to thrive within their culture.
• They don’t do individual performance evaluations.  They also don’t provide individual bonus compensation tied to achievement of individual objectives.  Although evaluation and compensation schemes of this type can be effective for jobs comprised of performing relatively simple tasks, they believe they are counterproductive for people engaged in highly complex tasks with uncertain outcomes.
• They believe that conflict is a natural part of any dynamic work environment.  Addressing and resolving conflicts transparently leads to better relationships, better processes, and better outcomes.
• They provide extensive training opportunities for their employees, and support nearly any reasonable request to increase individual knowledge or capabilities that support the company’s goals.
• They have, and strongly value, both cutting-edge science and a cutting-edge culture.